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Harold and Virginia Cameron have been married for 70 years. He needs 24-hour care and can go to the Camp Hill Hospital, but his wife cannot under current rules.

Harold and Virginia Cameron have been married for 70 years. He needs 24-hour care and can go to the Camp Hill Hospital, but his wife cannot under current rules.

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Harold and Virginia Cameron on their honeymoon.

Harold and Virginia Cameron on their honeymoon.

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Harold and Virginia Cameron pictured here with their daughter Pamela, have been married for 70 years. He is in need of 24 hour care and can go to the Camphill Hospital, but his wife cannot under the current rules.

Harold and Virginia Cameron pictured here with their daughter Pamela, have been married for 70 years. He is in need of 24 hour care and can go to the Camphill Hospital, but his wife cannot under the current rules.

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The telegram that Virginia sent to Harold when she was leaving England.

The telegram that Virginia sent to Harold when she was leaving England.

As 92-year-old Harold Cameron shows off his medals in the apartment he shares with wife Virginia, she sits beside him, looking at him, smiling with pride.

The Second World War veteran accomplished a great many things in his life, but as his memory loses a battle with dementia, his family is left trying to get him into a care home.

Camp Hill Veteran’s Hospital is the choice, but rules against anyone other than veterans staying in the facility has left the family with a difficult choice: send Harold to the facility he deserves to stay in and separate him from his wife of 70 years, or find somewhere else for them both to stay.

Their daughter Pam Campbell is determined they won’t take ‘No’ for an answer.

“There is legislation that veterans can go to these facilities, but spouses aren’t allowed. They’ve been together seven decades and they haven’t been apart a day in their lives,” said Campbell.

“Mom broke her foot a decade ago, and she was stuck in a hospital bed downstairs. Dad slept 10 weeks on an uncomfortable couch near her.”

Virginia was a war bride, and they met at a dance. They have been inseparable since, but he has gotten to the point where he needs 24-hour-care and her health is failing.

But the family refuses to separate the couple.

Despite finding out last March that Camp Hill had empty beds and was being used to handle emergency room overcrowding, Campbell is having trouble getting Virginia a space.

Although Veterans Affairs wouldn’t comment specifically on the Camerons’ case, they did provide a statement.

“Veterans Affairs Canada is sensitive to and fully respects the desire for couples to be able to live together, whether in their own homes or in long-term care facilities,” said spokeswoman Janice Summerby.

“In such cases, we work with provincial authorities, veterans and their families to explore all options available for co-location in other nursing homes and long-term care facilities.”

She said in an email that Veteran Affairs Canada’s agreement with the province only provides entry into Camp Hill’s 175-bed facility for eligible Second World War and Korean War veterans who need long term care.

“Veterans Affairs Canada does not have the authority to support spouses of veterans who require long term care.”

For Pam and her three sisters, this isn’t about money. It’s about her father’s right to be in a

veteran's facility and his right to have his wife with him.

“If we could pay for our mom to go with him, we would. The best thing for patients like my dad is consistency. To separate them would just kill them,” she said.

“This place is for veterans. It would be an honour for my dad to be there and he deserves it. But if we have to pay for 24-hour care to keep them together, we will.”

A petition started by a granddaughter of Harold and Virginia on Wednesday night hit 300 people in 12 hours, and is growing.

“We are receiving a lot of support. So many people agree with us and our sympathetic to our issues,” she said.

“It’s amazing to see that people you don't even know just want to see the best things happen for your parents.”

Campbell was clear that Veteran Affairs has worked tirelessly to help her through the situation. Her meeting with them on Monday got her a case worker for her father.

“They have been phenomenal. They have tried to help. My mother has continuing care and a worker is coming from Newfoundland for two weeks a month. My sister Wendy will help when they aren't here,” she said.

“It’s that next step we’re worried about. They have tried to get us through this. But we need to have my parents at Camp Hill.

“It’s just one ridiculous rule we can’t get past. If they have room for her, they should take her.”

Campbell says her dad has to go to Camp Hill, and if both can’t go, they will continue 24-hour home care.

“That man was so proud of everything he did. He can barely remember anything now, but he remembers what all those medals are for,” she said.

“But his family is first. My mother is so important to him. And he’s important to her. She says he doesn’t talk much anymore, but she doesn’t know what she’d do if he wasn’t there with her.”

She said the wonderful help she’s received from the department has been genuine and is appreciated, but she just wants one thing.

“Everything, including all the current care, is a band-aid. We need Veteran Affairs to fix the problem,” she said.

“I will not stop, and I will not give up until my parents get what they need and they’re happy.”